Local Elections, 2 and 30 October 2021
Type:
Country:
Mission at a glance
First round
Head of Mission: Ambassador Albert Jónsson
Core team of 12 experts from 10 participating States, based in Tbilisi.
30 long-term observers deployed throughout the country
350 short-term observers to be requested from participating States
Second round
Head of Mission: Ambassador Albert Jónsson
Core team of 11 experts from 9 participating States, based in Tbilisi.
16 long-term observers deployed throughout the country
150 short-term observers to be requested from participating States
Mission schedule
26 October: Opening of the mission
2 September: Arrival of long-term observers
3 September: Briefing of long-term observers
4 September: Deployment of long-term observers across the country
29 September: Arrival of short-term observers
30 September: Deployment of short-term observers
2 October: Election day
3 October: Press conference on preliminary findings and conclusions
5 October: Departure of short-term observers
27 October: Arrival of short-term observers
28 October: Deployment of short-term observers
30 October: Election day, Second Round
31 October: Press conference on preliminary findings and conclusions
2 November: Departure of short-term observers
Long-term Observation
The ODIHR EOM, headed by Ambassador Albert Jónsson, consists of 12 international experts based in Tbilisi. In addition, 30 long-term observers were deployed throughout the country from 4 September. For the second round, 16 long-term observers remained in the country.
The mission will assess the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor all aspects of the election, including possible post-election developments. Specific aspects include the implementation of the amended legal framework, candidate registration, the campaign, election dispute resolution and election media coverage. They will also assess how prior ODIHR election related recommendations have being considered. As part of the observation, the ODIHR EOM will conduct comprehensive monitoring of the media.
Election day
ODIHR has requested 350 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 2 October local elections, and 150 short-term observers prior to the second round scheduled for 30 October. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.
The day after the elections, ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.
Previous Elections
ODIHR has previously observed 16 elections in the country, most recently the 2020 parliamentary elections.
Press conferences
First round
Second round